Love Began with the First Meeting

"Since you don't seem too busy these days, how about being my female companion?"

The proposition made Molly frown slightly. If not for Spark's reminder, she would have nearly forgotten that Brian hardly showed her any concern these days. So, the question brought her mixed feelings. "What?" Molly asked as she snapped back to reality.

After thinking silently, Molly lifted her head and replied, "All right. I'll go with you."

Her affirmative response brought a wicked yet elegant smile to Spark's lips. Speaking softly, he told Molly, "Just have fun and forget about unpleasant things so you can drive your cares away."

Molly stared at him before her lips curled into a bitter smile. Then she looked out the window again. Her once twinkling eyes grew dimmer and dimmer. She told herself, 'Don't worry. Everything will eventually end.'

*

Grand Night Casino was packed. Vehicles occupied every available parking slot, while people hoping to enter the place crowded outside the casino. Inside, guests were jostling on the casino floor, either as players or spectators.

Jason led Victor to the monitoring room on the top floor. Brian was waiting for Victor inside the room, with two glasses of wine ready on the table. Brian picked up a glass and handed it to him.

Due to a bad cold, Brian still felt sick and looked pale and withered. Victor stared at him and accepted the wine. At the same time, he tried to make it sound like a joke as he said, "Yo, we haven't seen each other for so many years. Now, we meet here, and I'm looking at someone so pale and more dead than alive."

Meeting Victor's gaze, Brian curled his thin lips into a faint smile. He ignored the question about his appearance and asked his own. "Did you come here for Mr. Song's wine party?"

"I don't even have the slightest interest in that," Victor said, slumping down on the sofa. "I heard that the one I've been looking for is here in A City and is attending Mr. Song's wine party to finalize a deal. That's the reason I'm here," Victor explained his presence. "Just for that you come here in person?" Brian asked incredulously. He caught Victor glimpsing at someone and was curious. "Who is that?" Brian asked.

Curtly, Victor replied, "It's none of your business. It's no one important to you." He looked around the room and seemed restless. "I'm here now because we haven't seen each other for a long time. This time, however, the case is unusual, because it requires an unfamiliar face. So, here I am. At the same time, I want to see the woman whom Sherry is always talking about," he added.

His remark made Brian frown slightly in anger, but he still asked in a cool tone, "When did you become such a gossiper?"

Victor laughed out loud, but the sound was not amusing. He sipped the wine and nodded to approve its mellow taste before continuing, "I was only wondering what she looks like, this woman our Mr. Brian Long loves so deeply."

With eyes growing darker by the second, Brian stared at Victor. But the latter ignored the dark looks thrown his way. "Oh come on! Don't look at me like that. I am not your woman and won't sleep with you even if you were full of lust," Victor said. This time it was Brian's face that darkened in anger. He barked an order at Tony. "Arrange a room for our prince in the hotel!"

"Yes, Master!" Tony replied.

"Uhmmm, come on. Don't get mad so easily," Victor cajoled him. He thought of teasing him some more but checked out Tony first. Tony stood aside and was busy carrying out Brian's instructions. So, Victor asked, "Do you want to go?" "No!" Brian couldn't mask his annoyance.

"Ohhhh... you sound so defensive. Now that is pathetic. So what, if you lose that woman, Molly? Did I get her name right? Your life will be meaningless?" Victor discovered he enjoyed making fun of Brian. It's certainly worth watching the transformation in Brian's face into something other than his usual frosty and indifferent look. So, he continued to provoke Brian, "If you're free now, you can go with me. Or if I go along to that silly masked ball, it wouldn't be as exciting when I deal with this case."

*

One major event in A City is the retirement party of Mr. Song. Almost everyone who knew the man, whether they worked with him or for him, wanted to be a part of this occasion. Private media organizations also aspired to be active participants. But it was not the kind of event open for publicity. Ensuring strict confidentiality required tedious security preparations.

Stringent measures were put in place to ensure the security of Sophia Hotel. Mr. Song had booked the entire hotel so that everyone could rest there after the celebration if he got tired and did not want to go back home. Of course, they also could have fun in the hotel after the event. Only those who received an invitation were eligible to enjoy this privilege.

Brian would be riding with Victor to go to the hotel. As soon as the car arrived to pick him up, Victor squinted at Brian and noted his gloomy face then sneered at the expression he saw. "Well, Mr. Brian Long, are you going to wear that sad face the entire time at the wine party? Is this because your woman is not going to be there with you?" he asked jokingly.

Ignoring the joke, Brian remained calm and indifferent. He boarded the car without saying anything, his face devoid of any emotion. On their way to the hotel, he looked at himself through the vehicle window. He had yet to recover from a bad cold that he had been nursing for the past few days. And Brian felt his condition was getting worse.

When their car pulled up at the hotel lobby, the doormen hurriedly opened the door for them. Victor got off and tossed the car keys to the parking valet attendant. Then he and Brian walked into the hotel, slowly with masculine grace. The two gentlemen both wore a black suit. Victor paired this with a royal blue shirt, while Brian also wore a black shirt inside. Their stately and stylish movements highlighted their good looks and well-toned bodies. One was passionate like fire, the other cold as ice. Ladies, young and not so young, were thrilled by the fierce contrast between the two men with one or two smitten by either man. But Victor and Brian were oblivious to the admiring glances and the hotel surroundings as they proceeded to the ballroom.

Victor approached the reception desk and saw the masks laid out on tables, so guests can choose what they wanted. He thought for a while then with a frivolous smile, selected two and went back to Brian. He threw one to the other man and said, "Here you are!" Brian caught the mask mid-air. It was black and gold with gold trim. The color and design gave it an air of nobility, elegance, and mystery. A black feather was attached to one side that made the face mask appear wilder and more attractive. Carelessly, Brian put on the black-gold mask, which nearly covered half of his face but perfectly matched his all-black attire. The color scheme gave Brian a look of sexual wildness and insolence further adding to his arrogance and mystery. 0000☐☐☐